Shires heartened by talks over RFS funding

The lobby group has met the Emergency Services Minister to discuss the way the RFS is currently funded and its reasons for backing a property-based levy.

A review of emergency services funding is looking at changing the existing model which sees the cost split between state and local governments and a tax on insurance companies.

The Association's president Ray Donald says the minister is receptive to councils' concerns.

"Withdrawing support he understands," he said.

"There's been a deterioration in the relationship between the RFS and shires and communities and some volunteers throughout the state and the minister understands that.

"We don't ever want to disassociate from the volunteers.

"They're members of our community and as ratepayers they pay a contribution towards the current funding arrangements anyway."

Mr Donald says the RFS is overstaffed.

"Whilst it's necessary to have some for administration, we acknowledge that, and have others throughout the state.

"It's an excessive number of salaried people that cost a lot of money and we have to pay a contribution to that amount of money therefore we would look to see a reduction in that number and therefore a reduction in the cost of running the service."